How to Build a Short Story
Do you often think you have great ideas for a short story but aren’t sure how to get those ideas from your head to the page? This 8-week session will consist of reading and discussing short stories, completing writing exercises both in and out of the classroom, and receiving thoughtful, constructive feedback from your instructor and peers. Through the careful exploration of the elements of fiction (characterization, world-building, backstory, structure, and so on), participants will learn what makes a good story idea and how to develop that idea into a full story. At the end of the session, students will have the tools to draft an entire short story, as well as multiple story starts to follow up on. This class is suitable for all levels of writers, from the beginning writer to the more experienced writer who wants fresh ideas for works in progress or to generate new work.